Thanksgiving With Senior Pets

Thanksgiving isn’t far off now! It’s always great to get together and enjoy some quality time with our loved ones. Many dogs also love it when company comes over. After all, they get lots of extra attention. Older dogs will need some extra TLC around the holidays, though. Read on as a local Thorold, ON vet offers some advice on spending Thanksgiving with an older pet.

Quiet Area

Our furry friends are definitely creatures of habit. Older pets may feel a little nervous and unsettled at the disruption to their regular routine. Some may also get a bit distressed if there’s a lot of people and commotion. You may want to set up a quiet back room for your pet. Use a baby gate at the door, so your four-legged friend doesn’t feel isolated, and set them up with comfy bedding, food, and toys. Turn a radio or TV on to help provide background noise and mask the noise.

Special Plate

Your faithful furry buddy definitely deserves a special treat! Older pets may have food sensitivities, so you’ll need to be extra careful with what you offer. In general, plain, cooked meat, fish, or poultry should be fine. A little cooked rice or egg is also okay, as are certain fruits and veggies, such as apple slices, pureed pumpkin, and spinach. Just don’t give your pet anything too rich. Also on the no-no list? Garlic, onions, scallions, and chives; grapes and raisins; chocolate; caffeine; alcohol; avocado; pitted fruit; meat on the bone; and anything with a lot of fat, salt, or sugar. Ask your vet for more information.

Communication

Let guests know in advance that your furry pal is in their golden years. This is particularly important if you’ve just adopted Fido or Fluffy. If your pet has hearing or vision issues, give people a heads up about that as well. We also advise requesting that nobody feed your fuzzy bff anything without checking with you first.

Purrs And Tail Wags

Senior pets are often a joy to be around. They naturally tend to have very sweet and lovable demeanors, and they just want to be cuddled and loved. Spend some quality time with your four-legged friend, and pay lots of attention to them!

Happy Thanksgiving! Please contact us at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital, your Thorold, ON animal hospital, for all your pet’s veterinary care needs.